"It was sad today to go to mass at St.John the Evangelist, Valdosta on this Holy day of Easter without my family. I would not have gone if I were not playing in the music group. I sat there thinking of the hypocrisy of the priest talking about the renewal, the resurrection, the hope of the future life and look around and see only my eldest daughter, age 10, in the audience. Robert had to go earlier this morning to Florida with the 3 younger children to mass without me.. It is a sad day in the church when they can preach forgiveness, unity, holiness, and continue to live as though they never said anything. The priests and Bishop Boland continue to give homilies in front of me about family, forgiveness, and love. They preach about consoling the worst criminals, prison ministry and outreach, yet no one in authority from that church has yet to even speak with us about this situation. They refuse to extend the hand of forgiveness, and refuse to practice love and allow for a family to go to mass on the most holy days together. They will allow murderers, con artists, and child molesters into their church but not Robert, with whom they simply disagree with his "brand" of catholicism. Practice what you preach Fr. Killips, Fr. O'Connell, and Bishop Boland. Let my husband go back into our parish church. What you are choosing to do is beyond reprehensible and you will have to answer for it to a higher authority than Bishop Boland some day. The Bishop is such a coward, he continues this denial of sacraments to my entire family by saying that he "can't drop the restraining order", when he knows this is a lie. The restraining order allows for Robert to go to mass, the bishop is personally choosing to ban him of his own accord and nothing else. I pray daily that my fellow parishoners will continue to withhold their money from this church as long as this travesty continues."
Ain't she something?
-RK
35 comments:
I have followed this case since the beginnig. I am a friend of Roberts for 25 years. This is not only a religious conflict but a civil one as well and in my opinion Robert should work harder in getting his story out to the elite media at large.
This case is tantamount to violation of his constitunal rights with his right to worship God as he chooses. Would if Robert did not have a car. How would he get to mass?
I would ask everyone who reads this post to write to Bill Oreilly and Sean Hannity and pray they can act on this madness. Sean was in Seminary for two years and a good man. Prayer never fails so please pray and evil never ever wins. History proves that out.
I shall continue to offer prayers for you.
That is sad on the day of the Ressurection that a Family must be apart because of a Bishops' Arrogance.
You're in my prayers.
It is sad that you continue to speak out against our parish.Why do you continue to be in the folk and play your flute,how hypocritical of you. Perhaps you
could learn a lesson from the movie
DOUBT.
Yes, Doubt was a great film. My wife and I both enjoyed it immensely and discussed it at length. What particularly struck me about the film is that the two parties with differences were able to at least talk to each other. If only the other side had shown me the same consideration. But I guess here it's take them to court first, ask questions later--oops, I mean, NEVER.
This is a great example of how we are being treated here. Throw out big words you neither understand nor use correctly in order to insult and never find out what has truly happened. What is "hypocritical" about playing the flute? I never said that people should not play the flute.
FYI; I play in the music group to distract myself from crying through the entire mass at the way this has been mishandled and how my family continues to be persecuted and prosecuted. I got tired of the tears and so I play......
Where have I ever spoken out against this parish? I do love certain parts of this parish, but I cannot allow this "hypocrisy" to continue without pointing out the truth. It is sad, the priests here and the BIshop do speak of forgiveness, charity, and compassion, yet exhibit none toward Robert or my family. Some parishioners here do not give money over this issue, and I am just encouraging that because money speaks louder than words to powerful people. These things are said because this situation is still not rectified. I cannot go to another parish, for reasons beyond the scope of this post, so my spouse needs to return here for us to attend together.
My children cannot get baptized, get the sacraments daily as they used to when we first got here, or get the classes for confirmation and first communion because of this. You cannot just show up at some church an hour away and say, "hey give my kid the sacraments." It does not work like that. We already can barely drive and participate in mass over a 3 hour ordeal every week, so extra hours spent each sunday on confirmation classes is impossible.
I know you have no compassion for us, but you DO NOT KNOW the truth, only what the church lawyer has LET you know. Do you think for a minute that the Truth of what happened is going to get out voluntarily? One major tenet of the Restraining order is that Robert, a Catholic investigative journalist, cannot publish anything that he found out. Isn't that curious to any of you? He is an investigative journalist, which is also why the R.O. is invalid and should be thrown out in court, because, even though being investigated may be annoying, it is legal by a journalist working on a story.
Just a reminder, to this day, Robert has never come forward publicly with what he found out in his investigations, and has no need to now, given the circumstances. It was church personnel who brought this matter into the public forum, NOT Robert. SO for those of you who want to start up with "he should have kept it private" are barking up the wrong tree. We would have been so happy if the BIshop would have handled this matter quietly and discreetly and not brought it to light.
Mean Spirited Anonymous,
What is really sad and very telling is that the day after Easter you are belittling a wonderful Catholic mother who is saddened by the acceptance of grave scandal and the injustice done to her family. No matter how many movies you watch or live by, I highly "doubt" that you comprehend "Blessed are the Peacemekers" before, during, or after Easter Season.
Signed: Anonymous with a conscience and heart!
Tk--some of us were at the hearing and heard that your children were baptized in california and received other sacraments--as usual you both continue to distort the facts and the truth. If your faith is so important you will go to any length to practice--even driving long distances. There is very little sympathy for your fake pleas for forgiveness, etc.
"Distortions"--ANOTHER big word!
OK--let's get this straight...No one is asking you for sympathy. And no one is asking for your forgiveness. We are just letting the rest of the Catholic world see how UNFORGIVING some of our "fellow Catholics" here are (meaning an attitude, in case you get confused).
My two oldest girls were baptized at our parish in San Diego, because we lived there when they were born. Our third, born here was baptized in San Diego because we had arranged a trip right after her birth and most of our Catholic family and friends live there. When our fourth daughter was born, we made no such provision, resulting in the sad fact that we had to wait almost a year to get her baptized since the loving, pastoral leadership at SJE wouldn't touch us with a ten foot pole.
Of course, one person stands above the fray at SJE. I won't mention his name because it would doom him. I will say that ideologically and philosophically, he and I are total opposites. However, unlike so many others, he is a man of good will and is not so petty as to let differences like that stand in the way of human relationships. Instead of being threatened by other ideas, he can co-exist with them. This kind person, one of the few REAL Catholics in the parish brought my wife Holy Communion at the hospital when our fourth daughter was born. I'll always remember that weekend because I hated having to drive my other three to Mass far away while my wife was in the hospital recovering. But the kindness of this person is not forgotten and he serves as an example that the rest of the parish could learn from. It touched us both, deeply.
"If your faith is so important you will go to any length to practice--even driving long distances. There is very little sympathy for your fake pleas for forgiveness, etc."
Hmmm... this makes me kind of MAD! How about rephrasing this and applying it as a PARISH and saying, "if OUR faith was important we would go to any lengths to practice it.." including forgiveness and caring about the souls of people who would just like to worship together....
There doesn't seem to me to be any reason why this is till going on, and I am getting angry at behavior which seems vindictive rather than Christian & holy & charitable. Is the Bishop worried that Robert's presence might be a thorn is some people's side? I say, so what? Life is full of annoyances - dealing with them can be spiritually fruitful.
"Qui sine peccato est vestrum primus in illam lapidem mittat."
"Qui sine peccato est vestrum primus in illam lapidem mittat."translation:
"Who among you is without sin, cast against her the first stone."
Given the hostility here toward the official language of the Catholic Church, I thought this might help.
Thanks Dan.
Mean-spirited-anonymous,
If you want to make an example that sometimes priests are falsely accused, you could actually give a real example like St. Pio or St. John of the Cross--if you knew anything about the Catholic faith. Citing some film with Meryl Streep, an anti-Catholic abortion supporter, is hardly credible.
Anyone who knows basic Catholic morality would know that the events Robert investigated--which have been publicized elsewhere and confirmed to me by mother, who lived in the same neighborhood as CENSORED #1 but supported CENSORED #2--constitute the sin of scandal, even if the individuals involved were not CENSORED.
For example, PARAGRAPH CENSORED.
The Church teaches that this constitutes a mortal sin: they are PARAGRAPH CENSOREDwhich undermines the morals of others.
*Even if* PARAGRAPH CENSORED they are setting a bad example.
My mother has a childhood friend who is a priest. He used to visit our house a couple times a week when we still lived in PA and were in his parish. He *never* visited when my father wasn't home. Before my open heart surgery, we went back to PA so I could say my possible good-byes to my extended family. We had breakfast with this priest at our hotel, and he gave me the anointing of the sick.
He made a point, when we were walking together (it was just Mom and me) of walking several feet away, keeping me between him and mom, etc., SENTENCE CENSORED.
When breakfast was over, Mom said, "Take care of my son," and left to visit a friend, and we spent the rest of the morning together. He gave me the sacraments. But mom left so SENTENCE CENSORED.
It is basic Catholic teaching that we are to avoid setting a bad example. We are also not to place ourselves SENTENCE CENSORED.
Obviously, there are exceptions to this. Sometimes, heroic virtue can give the appearance of vice.
But if that were the case here, CENSORED and CENSORED should have nothing to be afraid of.
Thanks John. Isn't the First Amendment wonderful?
Makes me wish we actually had it.
My fellow locals who think it is okay to FORCE a family with four little kids to go 3000 miles away to get their sacraments because of not being allowed to get them 3-5 minutes from there house. God help you!!! That is so wrong I do not know were to begin.
All this because, Robert LOVES his church and will defend her to his last breath.
Even the protestants don't act like this here? I apologize to Robert and his family for the Catholics in Valdosta. So sorry, come back to church soon! I will withhold money until I see you there at mass.
Thank you Ted.
There really are more good people in this parish than bad. The good people are just afraid to speak up, because look what can happen here to them. I understand their silence. The silent and scared majority just get walked over here. But since they are the majority, I pray blessings on this church to get the right priest who will bring us together and unite us. I never give up hope when good people gather, because we will get our church back on track. Thank you for posting support for Robert and my family.
As a Protestant who regularily reads this blog I even understand the situation and see 'violations' of Catholic doctrine. Its sorta like Nancy Pelosi being Catholic and supporting abortion and getting communion. We, outsiders, don't see much going for the integrity of the Catholic church.
In my field if you take A JOB and can't live by the rules you need to find a new job - or be fired. How is this different than what is going on here -? Or are some people just excused and others held to the doctrines/ rules. I pray for the Kumpels daily and hope this is resolved. I know it breaks their hearts not to be able to worship their Lord together as a family.
Why was the case thrown out of court? Where is the proof of any wrong doing by CENSORED? Up at Perry, GA, was it true that your husband harassed CENSORED to the point of CENSORED being in tears? Maybe that's why the Bishop banned your husband from attending Mass at Church, and rightly so if true. It is written, "Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor." In your case, CENSORED and CENSORED.Like in the movie, "Doubt" could it be that you and your husband had it in for CENSORED and CENSORED and by jumping to conclusions concerning CENSORED. Did you know that because of your accusations CENSORED is DEAD now? CENSORED was CENSORED because of your CENSORED. Come clean, you have and had no PROOF! You are guilty as sin and won't confess to it. You take Holy Communion? Give us a break!Go to confession first, you hypocrits! Or better yet go back to CA!
Dear beloved raging critic:
Neither I nor my wife never so much as SAW the person you mention (whose name I cannot mention--my, how the deck is stacked to keep me from defending myself) when we were in Perry Georgia. The Perry Georgia event was November 1, 2008. The Bishop's attorney's letter refusing to permit me to attend Mass at SJE was dated March 22, 2007. Your chronology is slightly flawed. Your sources for gossip are outright liars--well, maybe "fiction writers" would sound nicer.
I have never "had it in" for anyone. I have had serious disagreements with some people in the parish. Some have discussed their disagreements with me and we remain friendly. Others have refused to talk to me and others still never so much as tried, but simply went to court.
As far as my case being "thrown out" of court, well, that depends on who you talk to and my willingness to stop appealing. The fact is, I have made three offers at different times to drop my appeal and try to reach an amicable agreement with the other side and have been rebuffed at every step. I guess in this diocese that's how one defines "pastoral ministry". In my book, this is not the way for Catholics to settle their differences.
I have never publicly accused anyone of anything. I never wanted any of this to become public. I sent my observations in PRIVATE COMMUNICATIONS to Bishop Boland. The door to making this thing public was not opened by me or my wife. You have no idea how much we wish that it would have been kept shut.
I thank you for your reminder to go to Confession. I try to go every few weeks and I plan on going tomorrow and I urge all readers to go to Confession to take advantage of the Divine Mercy Sunday indulgence.
As far as your generous offer to return to California, I would happily do so. Maybe some day I will be able to afford it.
God bless you and no matter what YOU choose to believe about me, I refuse to be your enemy.
'Accusations' killed CENSORED? I think it was more careless driving. And it is my understanding there were not accusations but CENSORED admitted in CENSORED from the CENSORED that started these actions. CENSORED contrary to what is taught in church doctrine. Also how do you kill someone from a hundred miles away? And with 'words'. I know the pen is claimed stronger than the sword but when the words are true, based on the CENSOREDactual CENSORED in front of two CENSORED- how is that deception? Truth came right fromCENSORED mouth and was challenged by caring people.
I forgot to mention that if I HAD harassed the person that my bitter critic accuses me of harassing in Perry Georgia, I would have been jailed for aggravated assault. I am simply astounded at the sheer brazenness of this ridiculous assertion.
I might add one more thing that's a troubling reflection of weak catechesis:
Catholics don't "take" Holy Communion. That's protestant language for their "commemoration services" where they reach and take their communion. Catholics RECEIVE Holy Communion.
The differences are important, but I'm probably the only person who will ever try to explain that to you.
I loved CENSORED, but the fact of the matter is that if CENSORED became aware that gossip was going on in the parish concerning CENSORED - it would have been prudent, as a CENSORED, to keep the CENSORED STRICTLY CENSORED.
I was a supporter of CENSORED, and extremely critical of Robert and Tiffany, until I noticed how EVEN the tearing apart of the parish community, and court proceedings, failed to lessen to the slightest degree the constant public appearance of CENSORED. This was unfair to the parish community. (Please consider what I just said - fairly, and without anger, "anonymous") It has now been years, and the parish still hasn't healed.
It's absurd to ask Robert to continue driving out of town. If he has theCENSORED to go the SJE, then by all means he should be allowed to go. This Bishop is not acting like a shepherd of the Church. This Bishop is giving scandal. (to me, and others, not to mention the children of Robert & Tiffany) Shouldn't the Bishop care about the Children? Shouldn't the Bishop care if this is causing ALL Catholics of South Georgia to look like some kind of nutty cult group that "shuns" people? Uhhh... let me think.....
YES! YES!
Everyone ought to contact the Bishop and let him know. NOW!
One may here:
http://www.diosav.org/contact
(website)
Catholic Pastoral center, 601 E. Liberty Street, Savannah, GA 31401
912-201-4100 Toll-Free (in GA only): 888-295-7144
I have had enough! My religion has taught me NOT to shun, but to forgive. Contact the Bishop and let's end this.
I am not finished.
EVERY priest EVERYWHERE knows of the scandals that have rocked the Catholic Church. I am certain that many priests hearts have been broken as they can't even interact naturally with young children anymore in order to avoid giving the appearance of scandal. If one has taken vows to endure all the hardships and loneliness that accompanies a lifestyle of celibacy & one has had YEARS of practice as a priest, is it really too much to expect the very slightest of hardships of keeping CENSORED in the CENSORED?
Why would a CENSORED risk behavior which might upset an entire parish community in a Church already plagued by scandals?
I said "might" on purpose - of course the activity might NOT upset anyone, but why even risk the possibility? Aren't we ALL called to sacrifice a bit?
We were completely victimized again by the illegal R.O. against my family in Perry, GA. We went to celebrate the Church and be a part of a wonderful event as a FAMILY, since we cannot at home. We drove the van full of kids 2 plus hours to get there. We saw no evidence of CENSORED being there. But an usher friend of CENSORED, apparently, pulled us out of the football-field sized auditorium to tell us CENSORED was there. Well, we didn't even see CENSORED, so we asked the Deacon to locate CENSORED so that Robert could sit 500 ft away from CENSORED as there was plenty of room to do that. Per the order, we should have been allowed to be there and stay away from her. (The Bishop, I guess, forgot to ban Robert from all church property in the State and as this was not even church property, he forgot to ban him from all catholic activities in the state as well.) Maybe, we will get that notice next?
Well, what a surprise, when no one could find CENSORED! So, just to be to the letter of the order, Robert sat outside in the lobby and waited for the rest of the family to attend Mass. He would not even risk the appearance of trying to be around the "censored" person. When mass was almost over, we had to leave because, again, I could not manage 4 little kids alone standing in the back of the stadium. We left in tears, missing communion and being esentially thrown out of a massive statewide event, when even per the R.O. and the Bishops choice to keep Robert out of Valdosta churches, he had the right to attend this if he kept the distance required. Not only do we have no earthly interest in the "censored" person, we barely can recognize "censored" to know to avoid CENSORED. If no one was able to find "censored", I guess that we were not even close to "censored", so NO harrassment could possibly have occurred. (Robert has NO interest in "censored" and never has, and never will! "Censored" could not even say in court, under oath that CENSORED was ever threatened, harmed, or harassed in any way, only that "well, I don't know what he will do next". You know, none of us knows what anyone will do next, maybe another "scary" flyer on the cars in the parking lot promoting prolife candidates? That would be terrifying!)
However, my family suffered a great deal that day and all along with this ordeal. The "censored" people got promotions and moved away. We now can be kicked out of family events in huge stadiums and catholic events for the State of Georgia if "censored" attends. We could have been able to attend the mass and receive communion if someone would have aided us in locating CENSORED so that we could meet the "feet" distance. But alas, not one "Good Christian" was willing to help us.
Hopefully, you will see who is getting harrassed in TRUTH.
This is indeed a sad situation, but I'm a little confused over some of the discussion of "forgiveness." Robert has said no one is asking for forgiveness, while Tiffany has criticized the priests and bishop for lacking forgiveness.
In order for the priests or bishop to offer forgiveness, or even a spirit of forgiveness, wouldn't you need to be willing to ask for it as well?
Robert contends, and I'm inclined to believe him, that he's done nothing wrong. But if he's done nothing wrong, then he can't really sincerely ask for forgiveness, and it's hard to criticize others for not offering it when it isn't due.
A sad, and difficult situation. I'll keep you in my prayers.
No, Robert, the "events" you speak of didn't offend they deeply hurt! You did make this all public with the original blog in which and Tiffany participated. You both said hateful things about both the victims that you stalked and harrassed. You also e-mailed the blog rantings to other parish members. Anonymous above is correct--you have to admit your wrongdoing and ask for forgiveness--it isn't just given because you want it and think you deserve it. If the parish has so many problems and you have been so mistreated why would you want to come back? Your story about the event in Perry is also false. You did not look for the deacon--he was sent to ask you to leave! Once again you tell half truths--the half that you want others to believe. Furthermore, I pretty sure that no one in parish administration actually supports you and your past actions. Even if you are forgiven it doesn't mean you should get to come back and start your issues all over again.
Those are good observations.
What my wife means by forgiveness is the attitude.
Christ calls us to be willing to forgive our neighbors 70 times 7.
I have no doubt that events I am prohibited from discussing in detail have offended some people. The vast majority of these people have no idea about the entirety of those events. I am willing to forgive them for that. There are people who gossip about me on a daily basis and have created me into a monster. I am willing to forgive them for that.
Someone in the parish administration whom I hold in high esteem once discussed this issue with me and we agreed that the willingness to forgive is an essential part of our call as Catholics.
The people who really have the power to make a difference in this mess refuse to even so much as talk with me. If they did, they would soon find that I am a very different person than the caricature they have concocted. I forgive them for that too.
It is so sad that if they would talk to me and hear the entire story, many would have an instant feeling of forgiveness. Many would also have confront the realization that they have been duped.
There are people who apparently believe that I am a dangerous monster, some even blame me for someone's death, which is patently ridiculous. Their rabid hatred reflects an unwillingness to forgive. Their shunning and exclusion reflects an unwillingness to hear anything they don't like and a hardness of heart that makes any kind of outreach impossible. It is that attitude that we both find troubling, especially from a group of people who have no trouble proclaiming what loving Catholics they are.
If these people really believe this nonsense then I would ask them to forgive me for what they THINK I have done and let go of their hatred. As much as it has hurt me and my family, they don't seem to understand that they are hurting their own souls even more by clinging to the resentment they are feeding on.
Perhaps a more apt term for this situation would be RECONCILIATION.
Until there is reconciliation, many of the parish's current problems will persist. I am powerless to change that. I have reached out my hand on three different occasions and been rejected. My hand remains outstretched. If they ever reach a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness, I hope they will act on it.
Mark:
Thanks for posting.
Now, for the hundredth time, that blog you are writing about was not and is not my blog. The content that you found so offensive on that blog were the very words spoken in public (and the very first public mention) of this whole thing and they were not MY words, but words spoken by a person I cannot mention in a very public venue. That person opened the door of making this thing public--not me.
As far as "hateful" things, we never said anything hateful about the persons you care about. You don't seem to understand that we cared about them too, but in a way that meant more than trying to ingratiate ourselves with them. We are more concerned with our fellow Catholics' salvation.
Before we were married, a priest we saw for our marriage prep told us that the reason two people should marry is because they are convinced that their partner is the best person to help them save their soul. That is real love. Real Christian love isn't looking the other way for people we care about so they will keep liking us.
With regard to the Perry Georgia incident, my account is completely truthful. The Deacon was Columbus Carter and if he was sent to "kick us out" he was certainly not the person who approached us. And I might add he was extremely kind and understanding with us.
Was it you? Mark, are you the fellow who asked me if I had a restraining order against me? Because we just happened to notice the deacon standing nearby and we asked him to come with us as we left the main room.
And again, I didn't HAVE to leave. All I had to do was stay 500 feet away from a person that I could not see, did not know was there and was unable to know the location of. Since no one would tell us where this person was, we left just to be safe, since the letter of the law is being thrown at me in its most extreme form. I acted in good faith.
In fact, I'll come clean about the persons in the parish administration who have been been good to us (I never said they "supported" us: they are smart enough not to take sides). Deacon Lasseter and Deacon Columbus Carter have both been extremely friendly and kind to us and their goodness shames the behavior of other "leaders" in the parish. Deacon Falkenhausen has also been kind to my wife ( I haven't had a chance to talk to him--for obvious reasons). There, you have it. So what is the parish going to do, FIRE ALL OF ITS DEACONS?
Why do I want to come back to the church? I have no "issues to start all over again" and I want my family to have a regular parish life again. There is nothing to "start". I want to be able to attend Mass more than once a week again. I want my family to stop straining themselves to have the sacraments, and as I said, I am perfectly willing to forgive and forget the treatment that a select few people have inflicted upon my wife and I--even you, Mark, even though you haven't asked me.
In fact, that's a good enough reason on its own. I should come back so the people in the parish can actually see someone acting in a forgiving way.
Mark you really should call me. You have a lot of anger and I don't hold it against you.
What a tragedy. This reminds me so much of the treatment giving to whistleblower priests like Fr. James Haley and Fr. Seamus MacCormack for exposing the homosexual priest problem in Arlington and Manchester. (http://whereisfrhaley.blogspot.com) Is the problem addressed? No - just kill the messenger.
That this draconian treatment has gone on for so long is ridiculous, but it is just one more example of clericalism among bishops who believe they are literal "princes" of the Church. They act more like secular princes saying, "Who will rid me of this troublesome priest, seminarian, deacon, layman, (fill-in-the-blank).
I've seen the following quote attributed to St. John Chrysostom or to St. Athanasius. Maybe they both said it. "The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." Reading this blog and knowing Robert's case, one can understand the sentiment.
The rudeness toward his wife and family is inexcusable particularly in light of the grave injury done to this Catholic family.
You would be warmly welcomed, my friend, if you and your family moved to the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. We love both Catholic warriors (we don't need more of the milquetoast variety) and home schoolers.
Blessings on you and your family.
Mary Ann:
Thank you for your support of my family in this sad, sad mess.
I'll agree that this is ridiculous. I will disagree that it is inexcusable. The fact is, I am more than willing to excuse all and move on, but reconciliation is a two-way street.
I am convinced more now than ever that we will be forgiven for our sins to the extent that we forgive. My wife once asked me what was the most meaningful thing she had ever said to me. I told her that the most meaningful thing she had ever said was not TO me, but ABOUT me when she was talking to someone else. I overheard her say that I never hold a grudge against anyone. I have tried very hard to make that my way of life. If I can't--if we all can't--then we're doomed.
I appreciate your kind invitation.
The blog may not have been your blog but the information about you and your so called issues with the parish had to come from someone--I don't think Barbara Kralis (or some name similar to that) picked it up out of thin air--you fed her the info. Furthermore, you both posted on it and said things that you had no proof of. Did the Pope ask you to do these things--stalk and harrass and try to find proof of wrongdoing. I am not angry as you claim and there is no point in calling you to listen to more lies? Your narratives are actually quite laughable. Also, I was in the courtroom and I'm pretty sure it was found that you are not a professional journalist as you claim.
Deacon Carter and our parish lawyer have different stories from your version--wow, who should I believe? By the way, the deacons are not considered official parish administrators--they volunteer their time--they are pastoral and sometimes even they can be misled or even misguided. Your wife needs a therapist if she cried all the way home from Perry for 2 hours--you should have told the kids she is emotionally disturbed.
I know that you won't post this. It's ok--at least I can vent. As long as the pastor keeps you out my wallet is wide open! However, you and the family need prayers so I will continue to pray that you get help!
Gosh Mark, when it comes to nitpicking, I cannot hope to keep up with you.
You have so many things to respond to and I'm just so unequipped to deal with the "tit-for-tat" game you are so intent on winning. I will, however, make a couple of observations.
I have no idea what Deacon Carter is telling people at the parish, but he has been nothing but nice to me and my wife. And no man needs to apologize for being as good as he has been, but I can understand if he isn't advertising his considerate treatment of us.
Since you were in the courtroom, you might remember that the professional journalist who was an "expert witness" was a photographer who shoots garden parties and trade shows for the local paper and writes some copy to go with them. He didn't appear to have much experience writing stories where the subjects had weren't enthused about being the subjects. But he had an AP card, so I guess that dwarfs me--after all, I've only had about 1500 stories published, tailed Fr. Paul Shanley until his arrest, taught journalism and worked in a major media market for the the "alternative" paper with the second largest circulation to the Village Voice. I can see how my credentials would incriminate me as a small-time fraud. And whatever you do, don't bother reading my latest story in the National Catholic Register.
As for the rest of your rant--vent as much as you like. I'll allow you to show it all to the world.
Since you are the irrefutable arbiter of truth, who am I to question you. I really wanted to call you to allow you to vent at me and I still promise not to interrupt you while you do. Perhaps if I give you a good listen, it will make you feel better. From the tone of your post, however, it seems that only my demise would make you feel better.
So, did you give the information to the other blog or not? Are you denying the things that you said and posted on it? Deacon Columbus is nice--but he's nice to everyone--I'm not quite sure that he knows the whole story and he wasn't in the courtroom. It's ok for you to criticize others (the journalist) your articles have been for radical right-wing publications--big deal! St. John's is a great parish and has a great school--with excellent leadership! And kudos to Bishop Boland for keeping you at bay!
Mark:
You claim that you were in the courtroom for my testimony. Maybe you were, since I don't know who you are. So if you were, you know what I said about the other blog and it's available in the court records. Besides, the main part of the text contained the very words spoken against ME in a public venue by someone I am not permitted to mention. Do you think for one minute that the pope would approve of those words and where they were originally spoken?
So what great part of this "whole story" do you know from being in the courtroom that I don't know? What is it that I am supposedly hiding? This is fascinating. Maybe you can also tell me what horrid thing I allegedly did in Perry Georgia. I'm dying to hear that one too.
BTW, I just spoke to Deacon Carter minutes ago before composing this and he assured me that he never witnessed me doing anything bad or weird or whatever you claim in Perry. This is making it harder for me to believe that there's anything deeper to your concerns than a mere lust for vengeance.
In the other blog post you are so obsessed with, I never claimed to have "proof" of anything. Other people spoke to me about a number of issues and that is water under the bridge now. Some of my observations were sent to the bishop and that was a private communication. Again none of this EVER had to be a public issue. That door was opened by someone else. I suppose in your mind, I was supposed to just sit back and be bullied. Well, I've talked with plenty of people who have been bullied here and many have found more courage to come forward and talk to me in the last year and a half.
I certainly am not criticizing the "expert witness", but simply juxtaposing my record with the absurd (but essential for discrediting me) notion that I am not a journalist. If you honestly think The San Diego Reader or The National Catholic Register are "radical right wing" publications, then I have to question your reading skills. Given the shameful (or should I say "shameless"?) job done by the "mainstream" media during this last election, I wouldn't go boasting about the credibility of "officially credentialed" reporting (meaning AP members).
Have you ever read a Diocesan newspaper that wasn't just a puff-piece promotional digest for the diocese? Have you ever read an "official" diocesan publication that dealt with those who have betrayed the Church? Do you think that everything has just been hunky-dory since the sex abuse debacle of 2002? That was just the tip of the iceberg. Do you have any clue how much the coverups and re-assignments have cost the Catholic Church in this country alone? Do you have any clue how many settlements come with confidentiality agreements so that the bishop comes out smelling like a rose and the victims walk away with a few thousand dollars, a gag over their mouth and a broken life? I've interviewed victims, their families and those left behind by their suicides who have been cast aside and shut up by the Church. I love my Church and She is too good to have to tolerate that. And NONE of this would have ever seen the light of day in an "official diocesan newspaper". So yes, I do not work for one--thank God.
Instead, I wear your denunciation of the papers I have written for as a badge of honor and I wouldn't have an AP card if you handed it to me on a silver platter with a gift certificate for Barney's.
I won't deny that I tend to be conservative in my views. So can you name for me any of the great liberal accomplishments of those who have hi-jacked the Church in the last 30 years? Besides the drop in Mass attendance, vocations, belief in the Real Presence and the increase in desecration and sacrilege and divorces among Catholics, what other great "liberal" accomplishments can you name?
I am glad that you think St. John's is a great parish. I think there are a lot of great people in the parish and I think it can be even better. Perhaps it could be even better if the "tolerance" of "diversity" extended to more traditional Catholics too and the Mexicans who are relegated to attending Mass in a tin shack in Lake Park. A Spanish Mass and a Latin Mass would be wonderful. It would also be nice to have parish leaders not boasting that they support openly pro-abort politicians and voted for the most rabidly pro-abortion president in U.S. history. It's your money--spend it however you wish.
Finally, Bishop Boland certainly is a "company man". And it's that "circle the wagons" mentality that has given us the mess we have in the Catholic Church in the United States.
Mark, this is wearing me out. God bless you, I refuse to hate you and I wish you all the best, but you seem to want to just re-hash old stuff or get in to some sort of contest with me. You know as well as I do it's just hatred. So here's what I'm going to do. I am going to post my phone number below. I am going to be really stupid and trust you and everyone else not to call me in the middle of the night (after midnight) or before 8 am. I am going to leave my phone number up on this blog for 24 hours. Until you are man enough to call me and chat, I am not posting any more comments from you. God bless you, but I'm tired.
Mark,
I am a retired West Coast newspaperman. I do not know nor have ever met Robert. I have never had an AP card, but have been credentialed by the US Secret Service, the Pentagon, and by a number of law enforcement agencies in California. I would guess that Robert probably was also investigated and accepted by some or all of those California agencies.
I am familiar with some of the publications in which his work has been published. Polically and socially they are all over the map.
The San Diego publication is usually seen as liberal, but it and similar West Coast publications have done some outstanding investigative reporting that the more "acceptable" news outlets would not touch.
The National Catholic Register is not National Catholic Distorter..I mean...Reporter. The Register generally has a reputation of being a good, solid middle of the road Catholic paper.
I am not privy to the details of the situation in Valdosta vis a vis Robert and his family...in fact, I had to find Valdosta on a map.
It appears that heavy-handedness on the part of some members of the clergy, coverups too, are nationwide. How sad for our Church.
Praying for you, Robert, and your family. I cannot comprehend someone who does not understand how difficult it is to bring little children to Mass at a parish where a certain percentage of people detest your husband. I know what it is like just going to Mass by myself at such a parish. A woman who weeps for such a situation is emotionally stable--one who would not be deeply disturbed by such a situation would be the one with emotional problems. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.
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